The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, February 20, 1908, Image 2
rTheSi
By REX I
; C o p y r i ti *: i 105, I
o;?*t tnn't n.-?nrt tn k nf **
alii a l>ystaiulor; then added, with enthusiasm:
"But. say, there's a win in this here
camp!"
rHAPTElt VI.
?I TllD'S your new shift boss?"
1 / (ilenistvr inquired of his
1/\l partner a few days later.
? ? Indicating a mam in the cut
below, busied in setting a line of
sluices.
"That's old Slapjack Sirums. friend
of mine from up Dawson way."
Glenister laughed Immoderately, for
the object was unusually tall and loose
Jointed and wore a soiled suit of yellow
macklnaw. He had laid off his coat,
and now the baggy, bilious trousers
hUDg precariously from his angular
shoulders by suspenders of alarming
frailty. His iegs were lost lu gum
boots, also loose and cavernous, and
his entire costume looked relaxed aud
flapping, so that be gave tbe lmpres
aloo of being able to snake nimseir om
of bit raiment and to rise like a burlesque
Aphrodite. Hla faee waa overgrown
with a grtxafed tangle that
looked as though it bad been trimmed
with buttonhole ectaaors. while above
the brash heap grandly soared a shiny,
domelike bead.
"Hat he always been bald?"
"Naw! He ain't bald at all. He
shares his nob. In the early days he
wore a long flowtn' mane which was
Inhabited by crickets, tree toads and
such fauna. It got to he a bobby with
him finally, so that be growed superstitious
about goln' oncorrled and would
back into a corner with both guns
drawed if a barber came near him.
But once Hhnk?that's fats real nameundertook
to fry some slapjacks and in
flrln' the skillet a heave, the dough lit
among his forest primeval. Jest back
of his ears, soft side down. Hank polluted
the trulcb with langwidge which
no man hud onght to keep in himself
without It wag fumigated. Pisrepplta
bleness oozed out through him like
treat through an Ice pitcher, an' since
then he's been known as Slapjack
Blmms an' has kept his head shingled I
smooth as a gun bar'l. He's a good
mioer, though', ^in't none better?an'
quare as a die." j
t 81uichiR had boguu on the Midas. '
Long sinuous leugtbs of canvas hose
wound down the creek bottom from
the dam, like gigantic serpents, while
the roll of gravel through the flumes
mingled musically with the rush of
jjraters, the tinkle of tools and the song
of steel on rock. There were four
"strings" of boxes abreast, ami the
heaving line of sbovelers ate rapidly
into the ereek bed. while teams with
scrapers splashed through the tail races
n an atmosphere of softened profunity.
In the big white teuts"which sat back
from the bluffs, fifty men of the night
shift were asleep, for there is no respite
here?no night, no Sunday, no
halt, during the hundred days in which
the northland lends herself to pillage.
The mine lay cradled between wonderful,
mossy, willow mottled mountains,
while above aud below tbe gulch
was dotted with tents aud huts, aud
everywhere, from l?aslu to hill crest,
men dug and blasted, puuily, patiently,
^while their tracks grew daily plainer
over the face of this Inscrutable wilderness.
A great contentment filled tbe two
partners as they looked on this scene.
To wrest from reluctant earth her
? ? *- a ? ? S/v ?.lil #/\ ?Ka woo 1th
ncuesi ireasure?, iv nviu iv ntmui
of the world, to create?here was satisfaction.
"We ain't robbln' no wkiders an'
orphans doin* it, neither," Dextry sud
denly remarked, expressing Els" partner's
feelings closely. They looked at
each other and smiled with that rare
understanding that exceeds words.
Descending into the cut, the old man
filed a gold pan with dirt taken from
under the feet of the workers aDd
crashed It in a puddle, while the other
watched his dexterous whirling motions.
When he had finished they
poked the stream of yellow grains into
a pile; then, with heads together,
guessed its weight, laughing again delightedly,
In perfect harmony and conten
to en t
"I've beer waltin' a turrible time fer
this day," said the elder. "I've suf
v?-*-;
- /'it been trcitiw' a turrihle time fer
t.de day."
fe.tJ tlic r;ies of prospectin' from
mi ~ .10.1
joilers.
I j
BEACH.
h y ?. .x E. D Sr. < J. I J [
_ a |
t!ii' .Mf.vi vs to tin4 rircle. an yet 1 j
don't i..v.;v; h It none n?.\v tliat I've I
struck pay."
While thev spoke two miners strug- i
gled with a >Mi\vhIer tlicy had unearth- j
: ed and. having scraped and washed it ,
carefully, staggered hack to place it on
the cleaned bedrock behind. One of
thetn slipped, and it cm shed against a
brace which held the sluices in place,
i These boxes stand more than a man's
height almve the liedrock. resting on
supi?orting posts and uinuing full of
water. Should a sluice fall the rush;
Ing stream carries out the gold which
has lodged in the riffles and floods the
bedrock, raising havoc. Too late the
partners saw the string of l>oxes sway
and l?end at the Joint; then. l>efore
they could reach the threatened spot
to support It. Slapjack Slrnms. with a
i shriek. plunged flapping: dowu into the
out and seized the tluioe. His great
height stood him in pood stead now,
for where the Joint had opened water
ponred forth h: a cataract. He dived
nnder the breach unhesitatingly and.
stooping, lifted the line as near to its
former level as possible, holding the
enttre burden upon his naked pate.
He gesticulated wildly for help,
while over him ponred the deluge of
icy. muddy water. It entered his gaping
waistband, bolging out his yellow
trousers till they were fat and full and
the seams were bursting, while his
yawning boot tops became as boiling
springs. Meanwhile be chattered forth
profanity in aucta volume that the ear
ached nnder it as mcst have ached the
heroic Slapjack under the chill of the
melting snow. He was relieved qulcklv.
however, and emerged triumphant,
though bloc and pmkered, his wllderdmi
of whiskers streaming like limber
stalactites, his boots loosely "squishing."
while oaths still poured from him
in such profusion that Dextry whispered:
"Ain't be a riDg tailed wonder? It's
plumb solemn au* reverent the way he
makes them untamed cuss words sit
up an' lx*g. It's a privilege to t>e present.
That's a gift, that is."
"You'd better get some dry clothes,"
they suggested, and Slapjack proceeded
a few pares toward the tents. bol>i
blirg as though treading on pounded
| glass.
"Ow-w!" he yelled. "These blasted
boots is full of gravel."
He seated himself and tugged at his
foot till the l>oot came away with a
sucking sound; then, instead of emptying
the accumulation at random, he
poured the contents into Dextry's empty
gold pan, rinsing it out carefully.
The other !>oot he emptied likewise.
They held a surprising amount of sediment.
l>eeause the stream that had
emerged fr<>in the crack in the sluices
had carried with it pebbles, sand and
all the concentration of the riffles at
this iK?int. Standing directly lieneath
the cataract, most of it had dived fairly
into his inviting waistband, following
down the lines of least resistance
Into hh> l>oot legs and boiling out at
the knees.
"Wash that." he said. "You're apt
to get n prospect."
With artful passes Pextry settled it
In the pan bottom and washed away
the gravel, leaving a yellow glittering
pile which raised a yell from the men.
who hud lingered curiously.
"He pans $40 to the boot leg." one
shouted.
"How much do you run to the foot.
Slapjack?"
"He's a reg'Iar free milling ledge."
"No. he ain't; he's too thin. He's
nothing hut a stringer, but he'll pay to
work."
The old miner grluned toothlessly.
"Gentlemen, there ain't no better
way to save fine gold than with undercurrents
nn' blanket riffles. I'll have
to wash these garments of mine an'
clean up the soapsuds 'cause there's a
hundred dollars In gold dust cllngin'
to my persou this minute." He went
dripping up the bank, while the men
returned to theJr work singing.
After lunch Dextry saddled his
broncho.
"I'm goin' to town for a pair of gold
scales, but I'll be back by supper; then
we'll clean up between shifts. She'd
ought to give us a thousand ounces the
way that ground prospects." He loped
down the gulch, while his partner returned
to the pit, the flashing shovel
blades and the rumbling undertone of
the big workings that so fascinated
him.
It was perhaps 4 o'clock when be
was aroused from his labors by a 8bout
from the bunk tent, where a group of
horsemen had clustered. As Glenister
drew near be saw among them Wilton
Struve. the lawyer, and the big, well
dressed tenderfoot of the Northern,
McNamara, the man of the heavy
hand. Struve straightway engaged
him.
"Say. Glenister, we've come out to
see about the title to this claim."
"What about It?"
"Well, It was relocated about a
month ago." He paused.
"Yes. What of that?"
"Galloway has commenced suit."
"The ground l<elongs to Dextry and
me. We discovered It, we opened It
up, we've complied with the law. and
we're going to hold it" Glenister
spoke with such conviction and heat as
to nonplus Struve. but McNamara, who
had sat bl6 horse silently until now,
4 4*1: W . i
"Certainly. sir: If your title Is pood
yon r ill tie protected, l?ut the law
has nrrlred~tn Alaska nnd we've pot
to let It take its course. There's ;io
need of violence?none whatever?but.
briefly. the situation Is this: Mr. t.'alJowav
has commenced action airainst 1
vot:. tlie court lias enjoined you fron;
v.-orhinp and h::s appointed me ns re
reiver to operate the mine until the
4t:it i? settled. It's an extraordinary
proeeduiv. of course. I?::t the < ouditin
- are. extraordinary in this country.
Tl r se:v-oti is s<> short that it would be
niu-t to the liphtful owner if the
claim l;:y idle : .!! summer. so to avoid
that r*e I ? ?.??? put in char-e. w!t!j instria
ti< ns to ojiercte it and preserve
TIU* ' - MI' ." "I l > ill.- cvii.i ^ ur
. " >s here is the I.'niteil
State-. lie will serve the
papers.
r'-ei.hi.1 ?!s haul i:i a pesturc
r<
"1! >ld can to tell me
that any vpnize such a
claim a< tind"Ti
e law riMMinxi'S e\er> v,f
his r: poinds are no tic.itl, so ni.
letter fur you."
"You can't put in a receiver without
notice to us. Why. pood Lord, we never
heard of a suit l?e!np commenced.
We've never even Ix'eri served with a
I
luminous, and we haven't had a
i-bunce to arpue in our ?><vti defense."
"I have .just said that this Is a remarkable
state <>f affairs and unusual J
l%n,l Ju. tni <.n '* \I f \'n ????i pn iti.
piled, but the young miner grew ex- j
clte<l.
"I-ook here, this gold won't gel !
way! .It's safe In the ground. We'll
knock off work and let the claim He
Idle till the thing Is settled. You can't
really expect us to surrender {possession
of our mtne on the mere allegation
of some uukuown mun. That's
rfdk'utous. We won't do It Why.
you'll have to let ns argue our case
at least before you try to put us off."
Yoorhees shook bis bead. / "We'll
have to follow Instructions. The tbing
for you to do is to appear before the :
court tomorrow and bare tbe receiver
dismissed. If your title 1" as pood as
you say it is, you won't hare any ironMe."
I
"Yon're not tbe only ones to suffer." j
added McN'smara. "We've taken |>os- |
session of all tbe mines below here." j
He nodded down tbe gulcb. "I'm an ,
* aai.W an/1 nndor hnnil"?
juurr i;i mo uuu ??? .~?
"How much?"
"Fire thousand dollars for each
claim."
"What? Why. heavens, man, the
poorest of these mines Is producing
that much every day!"
While he spoke Glenlster was rapidly
debating what course to follow.
"The place to argue this thing Is l?e
fore Judge Stillman." said Strove, but
with little notion of the conflict golnz .
on within Glenlster. The youth yearn- ;
ed to light, not with words nor quih- ;
bles nor legal phrases, but with steel l
and blows. And he felt that the Im- j
pulse was as righteous as It was natu- j
ral, for he knew this process was unjust.
an outrage. Mexico Xlulllns' i
warning recurred to him. And yctIle
shifted slowly as lie talked till 1::- 1
back was to the door of the big tent. ,
They were watching him carefully, for
all their apparent languor and loose- ,
ness in saddle: then, as he started to J
leap within and rally his henchmen. \
his niind went hack to the words of !
Judge Stlllman and his niece. Surely
that old man was on the square. lit j
couldn't 1*' otherwise with her be-ddc
him. l?e!ioving in liiin. end a. suspicion
of deeper plots behind these actionwas
groundless. S > far el! was lec l (
he supposed, with his scant knowledge ,
of law. though the methods seemed j
unreasonable. The meu might he do- !
Ing what thoy thought to he right.
Why 1)0 the first to resist? The tuen :
on tlie mines below had not done so.
The title to this ground was capable
)f such easy proof that he and I)ex
need have do uneasiness. Courts do .
aot rob hoDest people nowadays, he
argued, and, moreover, perhaps the
girl's words were true; perhaps she . I
would think more of him if he gave up '
the okl fighting ways for ber sake. ;
Certainly armed resistance to her un- 1
cle's first edict would not please her. , j
She had said he was too violent, so he
would show her he could lay his savagery
aside. She might smile on him i
approvingly, and that was worth taking
a chance for. Anyway it would j
mean but a few days' delay in the j
mine's run. As be reasoned be heard !
a low voice speaking within the open !
door. It was Slapjack Simms.
"Step aside, lad. I've got the big un
covered." '
Glenister saw the men on horseback
snatch at their holsters and just in
time leaped at his foreman, for the old j
man had moved out into the open, a i
Winchester at shoulder, ms cneca cua- i
dling the stock, his eyes cold aiid nar- .
row. The young man flung the barrel
up and wrenched the weapon from his
hands.
"None of that, Hank!" he cried j
sharply. "I'll say when to shoot." He '
turned to look Into the muzzles of
guns held In the hands of every horseman?every
horseman save one, for '
Alec McNamana sat unmoved, his J
handsome features, nonchalant and
amused, nodding approval. It was at j
him that Hank's weapon had been ,
leveled.
"This Is bad enough at the best.
Don't lefs make It any worse," said
he.
Slapjack Inhaled deeply, spat with
disgust and looked over his boss incredulously.
"Well, of all the different kinds of
blame fools," be snorted, "you are the
kindest!" He marched past the marshal
and his deputies down to the cut,
put on his coat and vanished down the
trail toward town, not deigning a
backward glance either at the mine or
at the man unfit to fight for.
[Continued on page 3.]
Rev Trail Scbedaie.
The following schedule of the
new train from Lane to Florence,
which went into effect Monday,
December 17, has been furnished
us by Mr J P Taylor, the
courteous and efficient agent of
the Atlantic ' oast Line railroad
at Kingstree:
North Pound Arrives
No. So 7:37 A. M,
' No. 40 11:42 A. M.
No. r?0 P. M.
South Bound Arrives
No. >0 h:lH P. M
* + n m
" .\o. 4, n:*u r. .m.
No. 51 10:52 A.M
,t Daidy Lxcept Sunday.
.Ju>t received, o..r nice line of
Dress Linen. IVnpV.s Mercantile
Company. l-SJO tf
,','oak ki^eys
Weak Kidney*. rarely point to weak kidney
Hervee. The Kidney*. like the ;Hean, and the
Stomach. find their weaknen. not in 'he organ
Iteelf. but in the nerve* that control d rulde
and itron?thea them. Dr. Shoop'f P wave ti
a medicine cpeclfioally prepared t h th?*e
controlling nerve*. To doctor the /? alone,
h It U a waito of time, at money a*
If your back ache* or i* weak, if the arte*
Meld*. or 1* dark and atronf. tf you have lymptams
f Bri(bt? or other dlitreetiet or d*n*eran* kidgey
dltoaee, try Dr. Sboop't leetoratfye a month?
SWti or Liouid?and aee what tt can and will
4* for yon. DwaKmcmwai aaaeeO
Br thilAtt'tt
Via VilVVH
Restorative
D. C. SCOTT.
bee our new line of Laces and
Embroideries. Just to hand.
People's Mercantile Co. 1 -30-tf
The Largest and Most f ..mplete
Establishment South.
GEO. S. HACKER I SON,
^ I bmd
-MANTFACTl B .RS OFSash,
Doors, Blinds
Moulding and Building Material, !
Sash Weights and Cords,
CHARLESTON, SC.
PROFESSIONAL CARDS
W. L. Bass A. C Hinds
BASS & HINDS,
Attorneys-at-law
KNGSTREE, S. C.
9-20-tf.
1M1UIU. m
Lake City, S. C.
C.-own and Bridge Work a Specialty,
ALL WORK
Guaranteed as Represented.
"W. L. BASS
Attorney at Law
LAKE CITY, S. C.
Dr RJ McCabe
Dentist.
KQJGSTS.EE, - S. C.j
J. D. MOUZON'S
BARBER SHOP
?in the?
Van Kenren Hotel
is equipped with up-to-date appliances.
Polite Service, t ompetent
Workmen.
5-8-08.
W. P, TENNENT
ARCHITECT
General Contractor and Builder
Solicits vour business. Estimates
cheerfully furnished on all
: ; kinds of work. : :
126 Evans 'Phone 1962
FLORENCE, S. C.
Supervisor of construction New School
Building and Superintendent of work
on U. S. Post Office and of John McSween
Co, stores Timmonsville and
Beulah and residence at National
Cemetery. : : : : :
TJoes Not |
I Color Hair
;
Ayer's Hair Vigor, as now
made from our new improved
formula, does not stain or color
i^the hair even to the slightest
j degree. Gray hair, white hair, '
J blonde hair is not made a
j shade darker. But it certainly
? - # ? t. XT _
J Coes stop railing nair. ->u
j( question about that.
11 Decs not change the color of the hair.
| a ^TW m Shew ;t to your
i!/ifiz>rc doetor
jj JL m. M M r. ? Ask him about it,
j** then do aa he aaye
Indeed, we believe it will stop every case
of falling hair unless there is some very j
unusual complication, something greatly
effecting the general health. Then you
should consult your pb'-sician. Also ask
him about the hew Ayer's Hair Vigor.
Made by the J. C. AyerCo., Lowell, M*?' ? j
COTTON]
-l.\D THE PRIV
TOBi
There -will be a number of si
Fall and we are ready to serve
splendid crop prospect we are re
enlarge our floor space, and ratbi
Queen Stoves and Ranges from *
price
2? JPez
We have just received a carl<
fered at a low price. Remember
min Moore & Co's Paint. Also,
Cutlery and Razors. The Robes<
predate our friends' patronage a
t'nued confidence.
L,&ke City
LAKE CI
A dollar
is a dolk
There is no better way t
dealing with
J. L. Stuckey, the ok
man.
I have a splendid lineoi
n TTT
BIB, Willi
that in view of the hard times
above cost.
A nice bunch of HORSES
at prices to suit.
J. L Stuc
6XXA CAR
g ?OF FR
| Horses i
V Nice drivers and
Sr Come in and ge
Q Buggies and
8 Harness
jr Give us a call :
V the rest.
Q Yours to
8 THE WILLIAMSBURI
ft l/? a O
ft ningsirtiC ft urmymie,
feoooooooooooc
IBANK QFK
Kingstree. Sot
CAPITAL, $ 30.000
=^== DIREC
Jas F Cooper
D C Scott
Collections made promptly
LOANS, large or small, mi
nBHnnBHniB
.1! /
VOU LOOK FOR Tr.WJS-E
/V fv\lf Jw 0'rta,l' Rro '
iJl w ^
i ryy*V~'aS^ Th? fxp?rt?nced Hunter'a crd
;jj|Lv Markaman's Ides!
2fl?areliable, unarringSTtVIRS j
FINDOUTWHY j
v i 7 V by thocting our popular
f-,71 RIFLES?SHOTGUKS
| PISTOLS
X' '/f J ^8k your local Hardware
J. iSmm or Sportinp Good* Mf
jV'v Iffl chant for the STEVENS.
.If yu cannot obtain, we
jf direct, wprria p-'-- .
L'JSnl paid, upon receipt of Cn:. jk? '
?! '> | 1<?k ITice. I
I - "' ' |
{ w-.ot 4 < ent* in vtampe for 140 I'aj^c > sJ
?.nitrated Catalog,includingcircu-; i
'! of late*t addition# to our ll:i? | J
j ;' iifi.irt. point# on ehoothig.nmia;.-1 J ,
J tuition, the proper care of a P.ronr ; ' j
I etc. 4Inr attractive Ten Col- :
i ' : hograplted Hanfer mailed z.
( where f"r mx cents in '
> T\sTEVL\? arms a tool c
( V. O. I4or -K1C7
i hleooee TV'a, Ma".. T". r.
mmmmwmmmwr??mmmm?? i IS
KING
CE RECENT IS?
1CCO.
ibjects of both in Lake City this <
i them. In anticipation of the
ipairin? our warehouse so as to
er than remove the stock of O.K.
warehouse we have |reduced the
1 Cent.
3ad of Wire Fence, which is ofwe
are headquarters for Benja
we offer exceptional values is
Dn Razor can't be beat. We apnd
will try to merit their con'v
lardware
TY. 8. C
saved
ir made"
0 save your dollars than by
1 r^linklp livp-stnrk
A VIAMMIV AA V wwvw
a ? m
ill Urn, j
am offering at 10 per cent
*
and MULES always on hand
? N *
key,
Lake City, S. C
LOAD?<a
't:SH?- ? 8
k riules | j
good workers. Sr
t your choice. V
Wagons g
andWhip$. X i
ind we will do Sr
Please, 8 J
i LIVESTOCK CO. 8 I
South Carolina. X 1
KXXXXXXXXXXXN
j
JNGSTREE
wSSSSSSSSSSSSSm
nth Carolina. 1 > ,
surplus. I Tm
TORS
R H Kellahan '
J A Kelley
r
ide on approved security.
m